Nutty Basmati Pilaf Recipes

RICE PILAF

Steps:

• Heat a dry, small saucepan over high heat until hot. Add the pasta, and cook, stirring, until deep golden brown, about 1 1/2 minutes. Add butter; cook, stirring occasionally, until melted. Stir in onion and salt; cook, stirring occasionally, until onion is translucent, about 2 minutes. Stir in rice, and cook, stirring, 1 minute.
• Add stock to pan; bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer, covered, 15 minutes. Remove from heat; let pilaf stand, covered, 10 minutes. Fluff with a fork before serving.

BASMATI RICE PILAF WITH DRIED FRUITS AND ALMONDS

Steps:

• Place the rice in a medium bowl and add enough water to cover by 2 inches. Using your hands, gently swish the grains to release any excess starch. Carefully pour off the water, leaving the rice in the bowl. Repeat four to five times, until the water runs almost clear. Using a fine mesh strainer, drain the water from rice. Place the strainer over a bowl and set aside.
• Melt the butter in a pot over medium-low heat. Add the onion and cook, stirring regularly, until softened but not browned, about 4 minutes. Add the cumin, turmeric, cinnamon, and garlic and cook, stirring constantly, until fragrant, about 30 seconds longer. Add the rice to the pot, and cook, stirring constantly, for about 3 minutes. Add the water, salt, and pepper and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to low, cover, and simmer until all the liquid is absorbed, 15 to 18 minutes. Off the heat, remove the lid and sprinkle the dried fruit over the rice (do not mix in). Place the lid over the pot and let stand for 10 minutes. Toss in the toasted almonds, fluff the rice with a fork, and serve.

BASMATI & MUSHROOM PILAF

Steps:

• In heavy 2 quart saucepan (with a ice tight lid), saute uncooked rice and garlic in butter until rice is lightly browned.
• Add mushrooms and saute for 2 more minutes.
• Add stock, salt and pepper.
• Bring to a boil.
• Cover and reduce heat.
• Simmer for 20 minutes or until water is absorbed.
• Stir in almonds and parsley.

NUTTY BASMATI PILAF

Steps:

• Wash rice in a sieve under cold running water until water runs mostly clear.
• Place rice in a bowl with fresh cold water, and let sit 30 minutes.
• Drain well.
• Heat oil in a larger sauté pan, and lightly sauté the onion and garlic until translucent, about 5 minutes.
• Add the rice, cumin seeds, coriander, cardamom and bay leaf.
• Toss rice to coat well with the seasonings, and lightly sauté 2 minutes.
• Add broth, and season with salt and pepper.
• Bring to a boil, cover and reduce heat to low, and cook 10 minutes.
• (Do not lift lid.) Remove from heat and allow to sit 5 minutes before lifting lid.
• Add nuts and toss to combine.
• Garnish with fresh chopped cilantro.
• For Vegetarians use the vegetable broth.

NUT RICE PILAF

Steps:

• Prep notes: Peel and finely slice the onion or shallots. Peel and mince the garlic. Roughly chop the nuts. Measure out the spices into a small bowl so they're ready to add. Measure out the wine and broth. Mince the parsley.
• Heat a large frying or saute pan with a tight-fitting lid over medium-high heat. Add the olive oil, swirl the pan to coat it with the oil, and when the oil is hot (it will shimmer a bit), add the onion and the salt. Cook, stirring frequently until the onion is soft, about 3 minutes.
• Increase the heat to high and add the nuts. Cook, stirring constantly, until the nuts start to toast. The onions will brown a bit, which is good; if they start to burn or char at all reduce the heat and move to the next steps.
• Add the garlic and cook until fragrant, about 30 seconds.
• Evenly sprinkle on the coriander , cumin, and pepper. Cook, stirring, until fragrant, about 30 seconds.
• Add the rice and stir to combine--the rice should be well coated with the oil and the onions.
• Pour in the wine and cook, stirring, until the rice can completely absorbed the wine, about 2 minutes.
• Slowly pour in the broth and bring to a boil. Cover, reduce the heat to low, and cook until the rice is tender to the bite, about 50 minutes.
• Fluff the pilaf with a fork. Add salt to taste, if needed. Stir in the minced parsley and garnish with whole leaves, if you like. Serve the rice pilaf hot or warm (the range of possible temperatures here makes this an excellent option for buffets).

BASMATI AND NUT PILAF

Steps:

• **Rinserice before cooking** Put rice in large bowl of cold water and swill around, pouring out cloudy water as needed.
• Leave to soak for 30 min in remaining rinsing water.
• In lrg pan, fry onion, garlic, and carrot in oil.
• Stir in rice and spices and cook 1-2 minutes, so grains are coated in oil.
• Pour in stock or water, add bay leaf, and season well.
• Bring to boil; cover and simmer gently for 10 minutes.
• Remove from heat without lifting lid.
• Leave for 5 minutes.
• If rice is cooked, there will be small steam holes in the center.
• Discard bay leaf/cardamom pods.
• Stir in nuts and check seasoning.
• Scatter parsley over mixture.
• Can be reheated!